Solaris (1972)

Solaris (Solyaris)
Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky
Written by F. Gorenshteyn and Andrei Tarkovsky from a novel by Stanislaw Lem
1972/USSR
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

Dr. Snaut: We don’t want to conquer space at all. We want to expand Earth endlessly. We don’t want other worlds; we want a mirror. We seek contact and will never achieve it. We are in the foolish position of a man striving for a goal he fears and doesn’t want. Man needs man!

Tarkovsky creates a universe in which Earth may be the most precious and beautiful place of all, while making outer space mystical, terrifying, and eerily beautiful.

This is a long movie with a complicated plot and an obscure message.  Probably impossible to sum up on a first viewing, at least by me.

The story begins with our protagonist psychologist Kris Kelvin exploring the wonders of the Russian countryside.  He has been assigned to travel to a space station docked above an ocean on the planet of Solaris.  The original crew numbered 80, now there are only three remaining.  Some of the crew apparently went insane before they died.  It is speculated that the ocean on the planet is some sort of intelligent life form. The authorities have decided to halt all research work on the station.

Kelvin meets with Anri Burton, a pilot and one of the few to return from Solaris many years ago.  He shows a Burton a video made at the time showing him telling a roomful of authorities about his experience over Solaris.  A fog came up and became solid turning itself into many things including a 12-foot tall human baby.

Kelvin arrives at the station.  Only two of the scientists are still alive and they are hidden away in their separate labs.  Kelvin locates the third man only to find he has committed suicide and left him a video.  The man says he fears for the well-being of the others, who have already been affected, and particularly for Kelvin. He eventually locates the others and they seem to be hiding something.  Eventually it comes out that they have “guests”.

After a while, Chris is visited by his estranged wife, who has been dead for ten years. They fall in love.  The wife resurrects from the dead again at least a couple of times.  A bunch more stuff happens but I think I’ll stop here.  What does it mean to be human?

The first thing that hits the viewer when watching this movie is the amazing camera work and beautiful strains of Bach.  Beauty characterizes every frame from there on.  The movie was made as a response to Kubrick’s 2001 (1968) and I must say I prefer it to that film. This is warm and humane where Kubrick is cold and cynical.  It also has a relatable story line.  Admittedly, I can’t say what either film is trying to get across.  Also, I thought this dragged at times.  At any rate, see this before you die if you haven’t yet and bask in the images and sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR0buWkOuO8

Excellent fan trailer (dubbed).